Little Women: Part 1, Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

The King children are sick with the measles, leaving Meg free to spend two weeks with her new friend Annie Moffat, whom she met at the New Year’s Eve dance. Mrs. March has given Meg a few dainty accessories to wear from the “treasure chest” (a trunk full of nice things from the family’s former well-to-do days), but Meg still worries that she will look shabby compared to the wealthy Moffats. Beth observes that Meg had previously said she would simply be happy to accompany the Moffats, and Meg agrees that she shouldn’t fret over clothing.

The Moffats are quite fashionable, and “simple Meg” has trouble fitting in. Meg observes that the Moffats aren’t very intelligent or cultivated, but still she envies their splendid things. The Moffats treat Meg like a pet and take to calling her Daisy.

On the evening of the first party (a small affair), Meg realizes that she will have to wear the dress she’d been saving for the big party at the end of her visit: a much-mended tarlatan that looks shabby compared to Annie’s. As she prepares for the party, a box of roses is delivered. They’re from Laurie, accompanied by a note from Mrs. March. Meg uses the flowers to decorate her dress and hair, offers bouquets to the Moffats, and tucks the note from Mrs. March in her pocket as a “talisman” against “envy, vanity, and false pride.”

Meg enjoys herself at the party. She receives three compliments, including one from the Moffats’ friend Major Lincoln, who calls Meg “the fresh little girl with the beautiful eyes.” While at the party, Meg overhears two unknown women (presumably two of the Moffat women) gossiping about her. The women speculate that Mrs. March is planning on marrying Meg off to Laurie, given that he’s rich. They also pity Meg her shabby clothing, and wonder if they’ll get the chance to dress Meg up in “style.” Meg’s faith in her mother and her innocent friendship with Laurie are shaken by this speech, and she sheds a few tears on her pillow that night.

The next day, Meg learns that the Moffats are inviting Laurie to the big party that week. Meg rebuffs their attempts to insinuate that she’s romantically interested in Laurie, and the Moffats snootily tease Meg for her innocence. When Thursday arrives, the Moffats insist on dolling Meg up – they put her in a tight, low-cut dress, paint her face, and tie earrings to her ears with pink silk.

Meg makes quite a sensation at the party. Young men flock to her, and wealthy old folks gossip about her. Meg is shocked to see Laurie – she didn’t think he’d come to the party – and Laurie tells Meg that he doesn’t like the way she’s dressed. “I don’t like fuss and feathers,” he says. Meg scoffs at his comment, but can’t shake it off. Meg overhears Major Lincoln commenting that the Moffats “have made a fool” of her. “She’s nothing but a doll tonight,” he says. Meg steadfastly assumes the droll airs of a fashionable young lady, but secretly regrets her decision to give in to the Moffats.

Meg returns home and is relieved that she can just be herself again. She confesses to Mrs. March that she allowed herself to give in to her vanity at the Moffats’ party, and that she overheard gossip that Mrs. March wanted Meg to marry Laurie. Mrs. March admits that she does have “plans” for her daughters, but that her plans involve making sure her daughters are “beautiful, accomplished, and good-“ not married to rich men. “Better to be happy old maids than unhappy wives, or unmaidenly girls, running about to find husbands,” Mrs. March says.